Downtown Concord holiday event is December 5

Todos Santos Plaza will have a new look this year as families gather on Saturday, December 5, for the annual Mayor's Sing Along and Official Tree Lighting. Over the summer, the lights in the trees surrounding the plaza were replaced after serving the community well for over 15 years.

In addition, two new archways were installed on the Willow Pass Road side of the park. The archways feature lit signage at the top which says "Todos Santos Plaza" on the side facing the street and "City of Concord" on the side facing the park. The new features compliment the traditional clock located on the Salvio Street side of the park that was installed to commemorate the City's Centennial in 2005.

The December 5 holiday event begins at 4 p.m. with Santa's Grand Arrival. Santa and his elves will hear children's holiday wishes from 4 to 6 p.m. after making a colorful entrance on a bright red fire truck. Parents are welcome to bring a camera and take photos of their children with Santa.

Numerous community and school choirs will entertain families from the Todos Santos stage from 5 to 6:30 p.m., followed by the Mayor's Sing Along and the countdown to the tree lighting. ABC 7 news anchor Dan Ashley will act as emcee for the evening.
Free holiday buttons, treats and song books will be available while supplies last. The holiday button was designed by Kennedy Kissack, a fourth- grade student at Highland Elementary. The Todos Santos Business Association will sponsor carriage rides from 4:30-7:30 p.m. for a nominal fee with boarding at Salvio and Grant streets.

The event will be televised live, weather permitting, on Concord Government TV Cable channel 28 (Comcast), channel 29 (Astound) and AT&T U-verse channel 99, and will be streamed on the City's website, www.cityofconcord.org.
Todos Santos Plaza is located in downtown Concord on Willow Pass Road between Mt. Diablo and Grant streets. Free parking is available in two municipal garages with entrances on Salvio Street between Colfax and Galindo streets.

For more information about downtown events, visit www.concordfirst.org or call the downtown hotline at (925) 671-3464.